H.C. FRY - Drinking service (11) - Crystal - Set of 10 wine glasses and one bottle

Set of 10 cordial glasses with height 10 cm and diameter 7.8 cm and a bottle with stopper, height 31.5 cm and diameter 11.5 cm, in light blown crystal with mouth-etched acid engraving. The glass features a slightly flared cup toward the top, decorated at the upper part by an acid-engraved band depicting floral motifs (roses with stems and thorns) and festooned geometric elements. Right below the floral band, thin parallel vertical lines are etched and extend down to the base of the cup. The stem is slender and smooth, connected to a flat circular base. Typical Art Deco / Modern Era style (mid 20th century, around the 1930s). It carried a paper label which was later removed by various production washes: H.C. Fry Glass Company. This glassware was one of the most famous and innovative American glass and crystal producers. Founded in 1901 by Henry Clay Fry in Rochester, Pennsylvania, the company marked a golden era in American glassmaking before closing in 1933 due to the Great Depression. Today, Fry-signed pieces are considered true treasures by collectors. Fry hired European glass masters (including many Swedes, Germans, and Italians) and produced iconic pieces, such as a monumental crystal replica of the Liberty Bell in 1905. The Decline and Closure (1925–1933): Despite major innovations and a peak of over a thousand employees, the company faced financial difficulties, worsened by patent disputes (notably with Pyrex manufacturers). After the founder’s death in 1929 and the worsening economic crisis, the crystal works permanently ceased production in 1933.